The Gore Board of Education gathered on Oct. 9 to discuss various matters crucial to the district’s future. The meeting, led by board president Cody Sloan, included the following board members: Lester Keathley, Ryan Hoog, Jeremiah Perryman, and Gary Cunningham.
The meeting commenced with Sloan proposing a motion to approve several consent agenda items, which included General Fund purchase orders 188-214 and Building Fund purchase orders 16-20.
The board gave their approval for the hiring of key staff members for the 2023-24 school year, which included Neisha Lemier and Jennifer Biffle as Speech Pathologists. The board also approved a contract with Keystone Food Service for a Cherokee Nation worker for the same period.
Furthermore, a resolution was passed calling for an election to fill Board Seat No. 4, with a five-year term. The primary date for this election is scheduled for Feb. 13, 2024, and the general election will take place on April 2, 2024. Filing for candidacy will open on Dec. 4, at 8 a.m. and close on Dec. 6, at 5 p.m. at the Sequoyah County Election Board.
However, the board took no action on one agenda item, which was to consider and take possible action on a request from Monty Battles on the Ski Hut property easement.
The board approved facility improvement and building project designs for the softball and baseball dressing rooms, public restrooms and concessions, and football/ softball concessions and public restrooms.
The temporary appropriations were removed and replaced with the Estimate of Needs Appropriations for the 2023-24 school year, as approved by the Sequoyah County Excise Board.
The board gave the green light for bids on a new route bus, funded by the ARP 795 Grant. Additionally, they made the decision to terminate Natasha Campbell’s support contract and provide notice of due process.
The board members approved the schedule of regular board meetings for the calendar year 2024. These meetings will take place at 6 p.m. on the following days: Jan. 8, Feb. 12, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 18, July 15, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, and Dec. 9.
An overnight trip request by the high school boys basketball team for Dec. 27-29 to Oklahoma City was also approved. The Wrestling Boosters received approval for the following building uses: High School campus safe-wrestling room and Event Center for a December tournament.
Principals James Bliss and Tonya Pugh delivered their respective reports, while Superintendent Lucky McCrary presented the Superintendent’s report, which provided valuable insights into the district’s progress, which included a district budget update, a Lower Elementary Bond project, and OSSBA District 8 meeting registration.
No new business items were discussed, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:13 p.m.
This news story is based on the unofficial minutes from the board meeting and could be in error if the minutes are changed prior to adoption.
